Damper arrangement

ABSTRACT

A damper arrangement wherein a damper blade opens and closes a flow through orifice and wherein a baffle means is provided which maintains an opening of constant cross section during a portion of the stroke of the damper blade to provide a buffered transition when removing a fluid system from or returning a system to full fluid flow.

United States Patent 1191 Thomas Aug. 14, 1973 DAMPER A RRANGEMENT 2,685,294 8/1954 Gold et a1. 251/121 x 55 302 X [751 Invent Mm Muisvme, 3:193:23: Z1325 251/121 [73 Assignee; Ameflcan u Company Inc. 3,552,444 5/1951 Nielsen 251/121 X Jefierson County, Ky. 3,019,809 2/1962 lpsen et a1. 55/417 X [22] Filed: 151 1971 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek 1211 Appl N 2 1 ,148 r-R9119 -21195 59 191 W- P 6919191 a 52 us. c1. 251/121, 55/418 [57] F 51 1111. c1. F161: 47/00 A damper arrangement Wherem a damper blade opens 58 Field of Search 251/120, 121; d 919895 a q s and wherpin a baffle 5 02 417 41 1 means 1s prov1ded wh1ch mamtams an opemng of constant cross se.ction during a portion of the stroke of the I 5 References cu damper blade to provide a buffered t ransition when re- UNITED STATES PATENTS 31:31:55) :lv fluld system from or returnmg a system to full 2,951,499 9/1960 Singer 251/121 x 3,167,415 1/1965 Edwards 55/302 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures l 1 I I I 1 I I I I l Y i l3 VIII/I114 PATENIEUmmm 317521439 SHE 2 F 2 BUILSEYL' Full FLOW I pan/ 52 a; 7711.: g nvmvrlou I BUTTERFLY Q k) 0 Buns smoke (fuu pray run FlflW A I v v I F nuuszrz /l--BUTTI2FLY I Fig.5

l v o OPEN/N6 rnv: 5 (run arm) 6A8 FZOW PAT! DAMPER a; 1711s INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION; j

It is desirable to provide for a buffered transition when removing a fluid system from, or returning a fluid system ,to full fluid flow. For example, in the filtering of a gas stream using cloth fabric bags, it is desirable to avoid a sudden surge of fluid when a fluid controlling damper arrangement is activated since sudden surges of fluid may cause the fabric filter bags to snap and consequently weaken the fabric material and cause other undesirable results. This weakening of the fabric is particularly noticeable when the fabric material contains glass fibers as a component thereof. Prior art damper arrangements such as bullseye dampers and butterfly. dampers can only be made to function satisfactorily by using expensive timed actuating means which cause them to operate very slowly. Even then butterfly dampers are particularly difficult to use because the fluid fiow rate does not change linearly with respect to the change in position of the damper blade 11 but rather most of fluid control occurs when the damper blade is nearly parallel to the direction of fluid flow. Less objectionable is the bullseye damper since its flow rate changes linearly over the entire blade stroke. The present invention however, provides for a constant fluid flow rate during a predetermined portion of the blade stroke. Thus, the present invention provides a straightfoward, inexpensive, readily constructed and easily maintained damper arrangement to provide a selectively buffered transition in a system when stopping or starting fluid flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a damper arrangement which provides a constant flow of fluid therethrough during a portion of the blade stroke to effect a selectively buffered transition when starting or stopping fluid flow in a fluid system. More specifically the present invention provides a damper arrangement comprising: a plate having an orifice located therein; an orifice closing-blade movably positioned between an open position and a closed position in relation to the orifice; actuating means for moving the blade relative to the plateorificeto open and closed position; and baffl'e means positioned in cooperative arrangement with the bladein spaced relation and orifice to provide a flow through openingof constant cross section during a predetermined portion of the blade stroke between its open and closed positions. The damper arrangement of this disclosure has been found to be particularlY useful where, for example, it is desirable to provide for the gentle inflation of a gas filter bag as it is being put onstream.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1' is an elevational view, partially in cross section, of one embodiment of the invention of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partially in cross section, of an alternative embodiment of the invention of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 Ba schematic view of two damper arrangementsof this disclosure in tandom.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the fluid flow rate through the damper of this invention compared to prior art dampers as a function of the position of the respective blades of the dampers. p

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the fluid flow rate through the damper of this invention compared to prior art dampers as a function of the respective opening times of the dampers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 damper arrangement 10 is shown in closed position having blade 11 in fluid tight relationship with seal l2'which surrounds orifice 19 in plate 15. Blade 1 I is held in-position and supported by actuating means 17 which includes shaft 13 connecting blade 11 to cylinder l4 and frame. 20. Cylinder 14 is generally a hydraulic cylinder actuated by control means 16 and supportedby support frame 20 outside of the fluid passageway. Control means 16 is generally a simple switch arrangement which may be selectively operated to open or close damper 10. Cylindrical projection 18 is attached on the orifice side of blade 11 to provide a fluid passageway of constant cross sectional area during apreselected portion of the stroke of blade 11. As can be seen from the dashed lines of FIG. 1, during a preselected portion of the blade stroke cylindrical projection 18 is passed through orifice 19 thereby defining an annular opening between its sidewall and orifice. l9. Also, as

can be seen from FIG. 1, during the initial stages of opening of damper arrangement 10, blade 11 will be] provides for a smooth transition when, for example;

cloth filter bags are being returned cleaning.

Preferably, orifice l9 and blade 11 are circular however, it is apparent'that other shapes may be used. Coron'stream after respondingly, cylindrical projection 18 is generally the same shape as blade 11 and orifice 19, but it is not imperative that such be the case. Additionally, it is preferable to have cylindrical projection 18 concentrically located with respect to orifice 19 which in turn indicates it would be centered with respect to blade 11. Again however, concentricity of cylindrical projection l8with orifice l9-is notimperative andthe apparatusof this invention will function acceptably even if cylindrical projection 18" is offset with respect to the center of blade 11 or orifice-1.9 or both. As can be seen in FIG. 1, cylindrical projection 18 is sized to pass through orifree 19. Also it should be noted that preferably the overall axial height of cylindrical projection 18 is equal to about one-fourth of the diameter of orifice 19. Such an axial height allows cylindrical projection 18 to be conveniently movedrelative orifice 19, thus allowing damper arrangement 10 to be fully opened at the upward terminal position of cylinder 14. Damper arrangement 10 is considered to be fully opened when the lower edge of cylindrical porjection 18 is a distance above plate 15 equal to one-fourth of the diameter of orifice 19; Further, it is most preferred'to have cylindrical projection 18 of a diameter which is in the range of about two-thirds of the diameter of orifice 19. In such a situation the clearance between the sidewall of the cylindrical projection 18 and orifice 19, will be in the range of about one-sixth of the diameter of orifice 19 on each side.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention of this disclosure which includes attaching cylindrical projection 18 onto orifice containing plate 15 in circumscribing relationship with orifice l9 and blade 11. As can be seen from FIG. 2 the operation of this damper is identical to the operation of the damper shown in FIG. 1; that is, blade 11 is drawn upwardly from seal 12 and passes axially inside of cylindrical projection 18. In such an arrangement the edges of blade 11 are in juxtaposition with the inside surface of cylindrical projection 18 during a selected portion of the blade stroke, and the flow through area defined by the edges of blade 11 and the inside surface of cylindrical projection 18 is constant, which allows a constant flow between the orifice l9 and the sidewall of cylindrical projection 18. From this time on the controlling flow through area becomes the cross-sectional area between orifice l9 and cylindrical projection 18. This crosssectional area continues to control the fluid flow until of fluid to pass therethrough. As in the embodimentof FIG. '1, the axial height of cylindrical projection 18 is preferably equal to one-fourth of the inside diameter of cylindrical projection 18 Also, the diameter of blade 11 is preferably in the range of about two-thirds of the inside diameter of cylindrical projection 18. A damper as shown in FIG. 2 is generally considered to be fully opened when blade 1 1 reaches a point above the upper edge of cylindrical projection 18 which is equal to onefourth of the diameter of cylindrical projection 18. The damper of FIG. 2 is similar to the damper of FIG. 1 in that, generally it is preferred that orifice 19' and blade 11 be circular and be generally concentrically located with respect to each other and cylindrical projection 18.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 it is of course possible to have shaft 13 located on the underside of blade 11. Then correspondingly cylinder 14 and frame are located on the underside of blade 11 as well. This arrangement is perhaps less preferable in that the shaft 13, may obstruct the fluid flow through orifice 19. However, the function would be the same. Correspondingly then, it is also possible in the embodiment of FIG. 2 to have shaft 13 located on the underside of plate 14. Again such a situation may result in shaft 13, obstructing the fluid stream through orifice 19'. However, the function would be the same. It is also possible as shown in FIG. 3 to have two or more dampers arranged in tandem so that two individual streams may be simultaneously controlled. It is possible of course, depending upon the direction of flow, that one fluid stream of FIG. 3 would be in the process of being decreased while the other stream would be in the process of being increased. Alternatively, two fluid streams could simultaneously be decreased or increased with such a tandom arrangement. The suggestion of a tandem arrangement is also possible with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the performance of the damper arrangement of this invention as compared to prior art dampers. In FIG. 4 the fluid flow rate of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown as a function of the blade position above plate 15. The increase in fluid flow rate is linear until the distance between blade 11 and plate 15 is equal to the distance between cylindrical projection 18 and the orifice 19. At this point as blade 11 is continuously removed from plate 15, the distance between cylindrical projection 18 and orifice 19 is constant and controls the fluid flow rate. This cross-sectional area continues to control the fluid flow rate until the lowermost edge of cylindrical projection 18 is in a common the time required for the lowermost edge of cylindrical projection 18 to move into a common plane with orifice 19 has elapsed. From this time on the fluid flow rate increases linearly until the damper arrangement is fully opened.

FIGS. 4 and 5 represent the flow rate as a function of blade position and opening time, respectively, for the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 as well. It is-important to note that in closing the damper arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 exactly the same flow rate changes are observed but in reverse; that is, for example, considering the damper arrangement of FIG. 1, as the lowermost edge of cylindrical projection 18 approaches orifice l9 and arrives at a distance equal to one-fourth of the diameter of orifice 19, the flow rate of fluid therethrough linearly decreases until the lowermost edge of cylindrical projection 18 is in a common plane with orifree 19. At that point the flow rate becomes constant until blade 11 approaches within a distance which is equal to the distance between the outer edge of orifice l9 and the'sidewall of cylindrical projection 18. Then the flow rate decreases linearly until blade 11 comes to rest upon seal 12. Thus, the tandem arrangement shown in FIG. 3 allows for the simultaneous opening and closing of the dampers in such a manner that the flow rate of two separate fluids may be simultaneously controlled with the flow rate of one being increased while the other is decreased. It is also Possible to have an overlap lnthe selective buffering of two fluid flow rates, for example, in the cleaning of cloth fabric dust filter bags, where the dirty gas flow is decreased and a vacuum is drawn on the filter bags to cause them to collapse to allow caked accumulations to drop therefrom, it may be desirable to employ the invention of this disclosure in tandem to effect a gentle decrease of the dirty gas stream and simultaneously effect a gentle increase in the vacuum applied to the bags. In such a situation snapping of the bags and weakening of the cloth fibers is avoided. Then, when the direction of the tandem dampers is reversed the vacuum is gently decreased and the filter bags. are gently again put onstream.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed 1. A damper arrangement comprising: a plate having an orifice located therein; an orifice closing blade movably positioned between an open position and a closed position in relation to said orifice; actuating means for moving said blade relative to said plate; and baffle means positioned in cooperative arrangement with said blade and said orifice to provide a flow through opening defined by the edge of said orifice and said baffle means of constant cross section during a predetermined time period during the blade movement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said baffle means is attached to said blade and is circumscribed by said orifice.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said orifice is generally circular and said baffle means is a generally cylindrical projection of smaller diameter than said orifice and spaced generally concentrically to said orifice.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of an axial length of about one fourth of said orifice diameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of a diameter in the range of about two thirds of the diameter of said orifice.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of such length that it is at least a distance equal to one fourth of the diameter of said orifice from said orifice when said blade is in its open position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said baffle means is attached to said plate and circumscribes said blade in its closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said orifice and said blade are circular and said baffle means is a generally cylindrical projection attached to said plate and spaced generally concentrically with respect to said orifice and said blade.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of an axial eight equal to about one fourth of said orifice diameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said generally cylindrically shaped portion is of a diameter in the range of about 1.33 times the diameter of said blade. l= 

1. A damper arrangement comprising: a plate having an orifice located therein; an orifice closing blade movably positioned between an open position and a closed position in relation to said orifice; actuating means for moving said blade relative to said plate; and baffle means positioned in cooperative arrangement with said blade and said orifice to provide a flow through opening defined by the edge of said orifice and said baffle means of constant cross section during a predetermined time period during the blade movement.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said baffle means is attached to said blade and is circumscribed by said orifice.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said orifice is generally circular and said baffle means is a generally cylindrical projection of smaller diameter than said orifice and spaced generally concentrically to said orifice.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of an axial length of about one fourth of said orifice diameter.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of a diameter in the range of about two thirds of the diameter of said orifice.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of such length that it is at least a distance equal to one fourth of the diameter of said orifice from said orifice when said blade is in its open position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said baffle means is attached to said plate and circumscribes said blade in its closed position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said orifice and said blade are circular and said baffle means is a generally cylindrical projection attached to said plate and spaced generally concentrically with respect to said orifice and said blade.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said generally cylindrical projection is of an axial eight equal to about one fourth of sAid orifice diameter.048191324
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said generally cylindrically shaped portion is of a diameter in the range of about 1.33 times the diameter of said blade. 